Gloucester stands with 'One Billion Rising'

About one in three women in the world will be beaten or life in their lifetime, according to the “One Billion Rising” awareness campaign.

A staggering statistic, to be certain, but not one the people of Gloucester are looking to tolerate.

The Gloucester Coalition for the Prevention of Domestic Abuse, Strong Men Don’t Bully, Healing Abuse Working for Change, the YWCA North Shore Rape Crisis Center, and city officials held a noise-making event at City Hall to protest violence against women on Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Women, girls, men, and boys of all stripes were invited to bring noisemakers to city hall to cause a ruckus against the assault and battery of women the world over.

Nicole Richon-Schoel of the Gloucester Coalition spoke of the power of the #MeToo movement its ability to unite women who have long since remained silent to speak of the abuses and challenges they’ve faced at the hands of men previously thought untouchable.

“We are united and we will continue to fight,” she said. “Secrets and shame are being replaced.”

Gloucester is no stranger to the #MeToo movement, with a powerful former playwright

Laura Crook, a guest speaker at the event, was among the women who publicly accused playwright Israel Horovitz of sexual misconduct in a New York Times article last fall.

Horovitz was among the founders of the Gloucester Stage Company.

She stressed the importance of women coming forward to accuse those who have violated their trust and boundaries, as well as the power the #MeToo movement has given to women who believed their voices were lost.

“Going on the record is an act of courage,” she said. “But I did not wake up that morning to take it all down… I was terrified.”

Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken also spoke the importance of communities throughout Cape Ann needing to work to better the lives of their mothers, sisters, and daughters against a seemingly endless struggle.

“Hands are for helping,” she said. “Not for helping yourself to my body.

The even also include a performance by Gloucester singer and songwriter Megan Wolf.

For more information about One Billion Rising, visit onebillionrising.org.